To couer their infirmities 7. To comfort them by their vertuous disposition and towardlinesse 8. To aide them according to their power if they stand in néede of their helpe or reliefe SECT 44. DOMIN 44. Of the speciall duties of Masters Q. What are the speciall duties of Masters A. 1. To take speciall care that their seruant serue God and liue in good order 2. To prouide for them as parts of their family such things as are néedefull and fit 3. To vse their power ouer them moderately knowing that they also haue a Master in heauen 4. To reward them agréeably to their deserts paying them their wages in due season and otherwise gratifying them as it shall séeme fit and they deserue SECT 45. DOMIN 45. Of the speciall duties of Seruants Q. What are the speciall duties of Seruants A. 1. To doe their Masters true and faithfull seruice 2. To obey them and submit themselues vnto them though they are froward 3. To pray for their Masters safetie wealth and happinesse SECT 46. DOMIN 46. Of the duties of married folke Q. What are the duties of married folke A. They are of two sorts Common to both Proper Q. What are the common duties A. 1. To dwell together 2. To expresse all entire and loyall affection one to another 3. To bend their endeuours to helpe each other and both to ioyne for the good of the familie SECT 47. DOMIN 47. Of the duties of the Husband Q. What are the proper duties of the Husband A. 1. Wisely to gouerne his Wife as béeing her head 2. To nourish and cherish her as his owne flesh 3. To instruct her in the points of Religion 4. To protect and defend her from iniurie and wrong SECT 48. DOMIN 48. Of the duties of the Wife Q. What are the proper duties of the Wife A. 1. To yéeld reuerent respect to her Husband of what condition soeuer he be 2. To obey as a Wife in all things submitting her selfe to her Husband SECT 49. DOMIN 49. Of the duties of Pastors Q. What are the duties of godly Pastors A. 1. To increase their Talent of knowledge by the study of the holy Scriptures that they may the more sufficiently discharge their dutie to their Flock 2. To conceiue and deliuer holy formes of Prayers and thanksgiuing in the name of the whole Congregation 3. To preach the Word of God Sincerely Faithfully Diligently Discréetly Zealously 4. To administer the Sacraments rightly and duly 5. To exercise such ecclesiasticall discipline as appertaineth to them according to Gods Word and the Canons of the Church 6. To conforme themseluâ—â— to the holy and decent orders of the Church performing all rites and ceremonies enioyned by it as reading the Litturgie marrying burying c. 7. To leadâ— a strickt and exemplary life SECT 50. DOMIN 50. Of the duties of the flock toward their Pastor Q. What are the duties of the flocke towards their Pastor A. 1. To pray with and for their Pastour that his Ministery may be effectuall among them 2. To heare their owne Pastor diligently 3. To obey him in the Lord. 4. To haue him in reuerent account and estimation for his works sake 5. To yéeld him sufficient and comfortable maintenance by paying duly and willingly their Tithes and offerings where the Church hath so well prouided according to Gods Law and where it hath not to supply the defect by voluntarie contributions 6. To ayde and assist him against such as oppose his Ministerie SECT 51. DOMIN 51. Of the speciall duties of men in respect of personall callings Q. What are the speciall duties of men in respect of their personall callings A. 1. To prepare and fit themselues for some lawfull calling most agréeable to their gifts meanes and inclinations 2. To enter into it lawfully and discreetly not vnaduisedly nor by indirect meanes 3. To walke in it worthily viz 1. Religiously in all workes of their calling hauing a reference to God 2. Wisely spending their time in necessary and profitable workes of their calling not curious or superfluous 3. Diligently and assiduously not liuing idely vpon other mens labours 4. Uprightly vsing no vnlawfull meanes of gaining 5. Ingenuously frée from couetousnesse and basenesse 6. Decently within the compasse of their calling not excéeding in apparell retinue their table or other expense 7. In-offensiuely giuing no scandall to their calling by their vicious life and conuersation 4. To leaue if willingly when either God calls them to an higher or more necessary or profitable calling or disableth them for this or authority remoues them Otherwise to hold it constantly to the end SECT 52. DOMIN 52. Of the speciall Antidotes or preseruatiues against sinne Q. What are the speciall preseruatiues against sinne and meanes to increase sanctifying grace A. 1. Frequent and feruent Prayer with thanksgiuing 2. The exercising our selues in reading and hearing the holy Scriptures and meditating vpon them day and night 3. Often receiuing the blessed Sacrament with due preparation before and holy vowes after 4. Conferring with godly Pastors and other Religious Diuines touching our spirituall estate and following their holy counsells and directions 5. Conuersing with the best sort of Christians and imitating them in the best things 6. Often visiting the sicke lying vpon their death beds and making vse of their godly speeches and behauiour at their departure 7. Reading or if we are not able to reade hearing read deuout Treatises or discourses Sermons Meditations Histories c. 8. Euery night examining Our faith by the Créede Our desires by the Lords Prayer Our thoughts words déeds by the Decalogue 9. Obseruing what temptations wee are most subiect to and arming our selues against them 10. Auoiding all occasions of sinne especially flying cuill company 11. Resisting the first motions to sinne and killing the Cockatrice in the egge 12. Employing our selues continually about some lawfull work that the Deuill finde vs not idle 13. The consideration of the dreadfull Maiesty of GOD in whose presence and eye wee are alwaies 14. The consideration of the infinite goodnesse of God whom we grieuously offend by the least sin 15. The consideration of God's fearefull iudgements vpon sinners in former times and in our memory 16. The pricking our conscience with the remembrance of our former sinnes especially such as haue layen heauiest vpon vs saying to our selues in the words of the Apostle or the like What fruit had we in those things whereof wee are now ashamed 17. The consideration of the certainty of our death and the vncertainty of the time 18. The consideration of the strickt account we are to make at the day of Iudgement 19. The consideration of the euerlasting and vnsufferable torments of the wicked in hell 20. The consideration of the eternall and vnconceiueable ioyes of the godly in heauen Who so doeth these things shall neuer fall HEB. 13. VERSE 20. 21. 20. The God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus the great Shepheard of the sheepe through
thee FINIS Errata PAge 3. in marg germinatus reade germinans p. 9. l 8 r. his priuate prayer l. 9. dele alone p. 19. in marg patrij r. patrui p. 24 in marg r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 58. l. 22. pure and plaine heart r. pure hearts and hands p. 63. l. 9. bare r. priuate p 64. l. 13. Saturday r Sabbath eue p 68. l. 5. ioyned r. inioyned p. 97 l. 5 one r. oure p. 100. l. 6. roome r. man p. 109 l 1. knife r. thrift l 11. approued r. approueth p 120 l 9. fit r sill l. 15. faith r. face p. 150. l. 19 dele my p. 151. l. 16. insert the close out of Scripture p. 163 l 27 these r. the p. 167. l. 11. adde Gen. 3. 15. p. 185. l. 2. d Ier. 44. p. 194 l. 16. d. for p. 195. l. 14. heart r. head p. 235. l. ◠Ioh. 15. 10. r. Ioh 16. 28. p. 265. l. 27. immediately r. mediately p. 281. l. 18. thou wert r. thou who wert p. 299. in marg strength r out of his side p. 320. in mar which God r. of God p. 328. l. 1. his r thy p 331. l 22. dele made p. 361. l. 15. Mat. 1 12 r. Mat. 11. 1 p 365. deaded r dead p. 371 l 22 to r. for p. 380. in marg in r. an p. 388. l. 6. the r as the p 435. l. 23. eating 1. eaten p. 439. l. 2. for r. of p. 443 l 10. adde 1 Pet. 2. 23. p. 446. l 21. adde in marg the Spirit p. 449. l. 13. adde in marg happinesse p. 453 the prayers are false quoted p. 458. l. 17. things r. my members p. 460. l. 5. dele to which faith is requisite p. 465. in marg pray r. prayer p 477. l. 24. them r therein p 481. l. 20. in marg dele peace p. 4. 82. in marg dele heere p. 488 l 26 dele and p. 490. l. 12. from r. to p. 524. l. 21. were yea and amen r. were not yea and nay p 518. l. 3. affection r. affliction p 523. compasse r. compose p. 530. l. 13. dele and. p. 531. l. 8. dele so p. 532. l. 9 the r thy THE HAND-MAID TO PRIVATE DEVOTION THE SECOND PART Deliuering the summe of SAVING KNOVVLEDGE in 52 Sections answerable to the number of the Sundayes throughout the Yeere IOH. 17. 3. This is life eternall to know thee to be the onely true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ. AVGVST Confess Quid prodest in caeteris disciplinis peritum esse fine doctrinâ piëtatis periturum LONDON Printed by G. M. and R. B. for Nicholas Boorne and are to be sold at his shop at the South Entrance of the Rojall Exchange 1625. A Table representing the generall Method of this Part. Blessednes is obtained by true Religion reueiled by God in holy SCRIPTVRES which instruct vs in the 1. Knowledge of 1 God his Nature Attributes Works of CREATION Prouidence generall speciall 2 CHRIST his Person Estates Offices of King Priest Prophet 2. Worship of GOD in CHRIST Immediate vvhich consisteth in performing all holy duties commanded in the first Table Mediate which consisteth in performing all duties to our neighbours and our selues commanded in the second Table which are of a sorts 1 Generall and common duties of all Christians one to another 2 Special proper to men in certaine Estates Callings A Table of the particular Contents OF Catechisme the parts and proper ends thereof Sect. 1. Of blessednesse and the meanes of obtaining it Sect. 2. Of Religion and the parts thereof Sect. 3. Of the nature of God Sect. 4. Of the principall attributes of God Sect. 5. Of the workes of God in generall Sect. 6. Of Gods decrees Sect. 7. Of the Creation Sect. 8. Of Gods generall prouidence Sect. 9. Of the Predestination of Angels Sect. 10. Of the Predestination of men Sect. 11. Of Christ his person Sect. 12. Of Christ his estate of humiliation Sect. 13. Of Christ his estate of exaltation Sect. 14. Of Christ his Propheticall function Sect. 15. Of Christ his Priestly function Sect. 16. Of Christ his Kingly function Sect. 17. Of the Church and the parts thereof Sect. 18. Of the notes of the true Church Sect. 19. Of the two-fold worship of God and of faith in particular Sect. 20. Of humility and honouring God and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 21. Of reuerence obedience and patience and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 22. Of loue feare repentance gratitude and zeale and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 23. Of hope confidence and magnanimity and how they are the fruits of faith Sect. 24. Of the outward worship of God in generall Sect. 25. Of keeping the Sabboth Sect. 26. Of hearing the Word Sect. 27. Of Prayer and the parts thereof Sect. 28. Of receiuing the Sacrament and necessary preparation thereunto Sect. 29. Of oathes vowes and profession of our faith Sect. 30. Of the Christian duties wee owe to our selues Sect. 31. Of the common duties were owe to our neighbours Sect. 32. Of the speciall workes of humilitie Sect. 33. Of the speciall workes of meeknesse Sect. 34. Of the speciall workes of friendship Sect. 35. Of the speciall workes of Christian zeale Sect. 36. Of the duties of Superiours towards inferiours Sect. 37. Of the duties of inferiours towards their Superiours Sect. 38. Of the duties of equalls Sect. 39. Of the Christian duties of Kings towards their Subiects Sect. 40. Of the speciall duties of Subiects to their King Sect. 41. Of the duties of Christian parents Sect. 42. Of the speciall duties of children Sect. 43. Of the speciall duties of Masters Sect. 44. Of the speciall duties of Seruants Sect. 45. Of the duties of married folke Sect. 46. Of the duties of the Husband Sect. 47. Of the duties of the wife Sect. 48 Of the duties of Pastours Sect. 49 Of the duties of the flock toward their Pastour Sect. 50. Of the speciall duties of men in respect of their personall callings Sect. 51. Of the speciall antidotes or preseruatiues against sinne Sect. 52. THE PRAYER BEFORE THE Catechisme GRacious Father who hast prouided the sincere milke of the Word for New borne babes in Christ as thou hast strong meate for them that are of riper yéers and iudgement and hast commended to the dispensers of thy holy mysteries as well the care of feeding thy tender Lambes as thy well growne and stronger sheepe Guide me by thy holy spirit that I may guide them in the paths of righteousnesse and leade them to the waters of comfort flowing from the fountaine of thy most pure and holy Word Season their tender yéeres with true Religion and powre into these new vessels the new wine of thy Gospell that they sauour not of the caske of the olde Man Open their hearts as thou openedst the heart of Lydia that they may attend to those things that concerne their eternall saluation Sit thou in the middest of vs here assembled as thou satest
to certaine estates callings of mē Q. VVhat are the generall duties of all men especially Christians one towards another A. They are comprised in these two Vertues Innocencie Charitie Q. VVhat doth innocencie require A. That wee hurt not nor wrong any man in Person Goods Name Q. VVhat doth charitie require A. That we do all the good we can to our brother abounding in good workes which may bee reduced to foure heads vz. workes of Humanitie Meekenesse Friendship Zeale SECT 33. DOMIN 33. Of the speciall works of Humanity Q. VVhat are the speciall works of Humanitie A. To bee compassionate towards our brother feed the hungrie cloath the naked harbour the stranger relieue the oppressed redeeme the captiue defend the fatherlesse and widdow visit the sick and burie the dead SECT 34. DOMIN 34. Of the speciall works of meeknesse Quest. VVhat are the speciall workes of meekenesse A. To beare one anothers burdens forgiue one another all priuate iniuries and wrongs to endeauour to make peace betweene others and if it be possible to haue peace our selues with all men SECT 35. DOMIN 35. Of the speciall workes of friendship Q. What are the speciall works of friendship A. 1. To preserue as much as in vs lyeth the life of our brother by counsell aide and assistance 2. To endeauour to preserue his good name and credit by affording him our true testimony and iust defence commendation of his good parts and couering his infirmities 3. To endeauour to preserue and better his estate by dealing truly with him in all bargaines and contracts lending him fréely and contributing liberally to his necessities according to our meanes and ability SECT 36. DOMIN 36. Of the special works Christian of Zeal Q. What are the speciall workes of Zeale or holy and Christian loue towards our brother A. To séeke to winne him to Christ and to labour his eternall saluation 1. By instructing him in the Truth 2. Conuincing his errors 3. Admonishing him of his duty 4. Reprouing his faults 5. Compassionating his falls 6. Reioycing at his recouerie 7. Comforting him in all temptations and afflictions 8. Auoiding all scandalous carriage before him 9. Giuing him good example SECT 37. DOMIN 37. Of the duties of Superiours towards inferiours Q. Besides these generall duties you mentioned speciall duties to men in respect of certaine estates and callings VVhat meane you by states A. The condition qualitie and degree of men who are in a 3-fold respect order or ranke 1 Superiours In generall ouer inferiours To speciall 1 Kings ouer their Subiects 2 Fathers ouer their children 3 Husbands ouer their Wiues 4 Masters our their seruants 5 Pastours ouer their flock 2 Inferiours In generall to Superiours In speciall 1 Subiects to their Prince 2 Children to their Fathers 3 Wiues to their husbands 4 Seruants their Masters 5 Flocks to their Pastours 3 Equalls in all respects Q. What are the duties of superiours in generall toward their inferiours A. 1. To carrie themselues with that grauitie and discretion towards them that they may deserue respect and reuerence from them 2. To respect them in their place not despising their aduised admonitions nor sleighting their iust exceptions and complaints 3. To employ their eminent gifts in what kind soeuer they are to the glorie of God and good of them 4. To countenance and encourage them in good courses and discourage them in the contrary 5. To shine before them in good example of life and conuersation which is a dutie of all Christians but more especially concerneth superiours because their example preuaileth most either way SECT 38. DOMIN 38. Of the duties of inferiours towards their superiours Q. What are the duties of inferiours in generall towards their superiours A. 1. To yéeld them that reuerence which is any way due to their persons or places 2. To hearken to their sage counsels and admonitions 3. To make vse of their gifts and benefit themselues by them 4. To recompence them for the good they receiue by them at least by a thankfull acknowledgement 5. To imitate their vertues and follow their good example SECT 39. DOMIN 39. Of the duties of equals Q. What are the duties of equals A. To conuerse friendly ciuilly and curteously one with another Friendly in mutuall office of loue Ciuilly in saluting taking leaue and the like cōmendable complement Courteously in honour one going before another SECT 40. DOMIN 40. Of the Christian duties of Kings toward their Subiects Q. What are the duties of superiours in speciall and first of Kings towards their Subiects A. 1. To make wholesome and godly Lawes and Edicts for the 1. Establishing of Religion 2. Execution of iustice 3. Preseruation of peace 4. Welfare of Church Cōmon-wealth 2. To appoint officers vnder them men fearing God and hating couetousnesse 3. To call assemblies as oft as it is needfull ecclesiasticall and ciuill for the better ordering of the affaires of Church and Common-wealth 4. To see as much as in them lyeth that all the subiects in their places discharge their dutie 5. To preferre and reward those that deserue well in Church or Common-Wealth 6. To punish all sorts of delinquents with indifferencie and equity 7. To defend their Subiects against violence and wrong both by Law Sword 8. To prouide the best they can for their subiects after their death by taking care for their successor SECT 41. DOMIN 41. Of the speciall duties of Subiects to their King Q. What are the speciall duties of Subiects A. 1. To make supplication in speciall for their Prince 2. To honour his Person 3. To obey his Lawes 4. To feare his power and submit themselues to it 5. To beare armes for him in time of warre if their age and sexe permit 6. To doe him faithfull seruice in their seuerall place and office séeking by all meanes to preserue his Life State Honour 7. To pay willingly all dues vnto him 8. To obey his inferiour Officers and Ministers SECT 42. DOMIN 42. Of the duties of Christian Parents Q. What are the duties of Christian Parents A. 1. To blesse their children 2. To instruct them in the grounds of Religion 3. To excite them to vertue by Prayses Promises Rewards 4. To deter reclaime them from vice by Rebukes Threats Moderate chastenings 5. To bring them vp in good nurture and fit them for some calling 6. To allow them competent maintenance by their life time 7. To prouide for them after their death as they are able by leauing their substance and goods to them 8. To defend them from iniurie 9. To haue a care of disposing them in marriage if they are thereunto inclined SECT 43. DOMIN 43. Of the speciall duties of children Q. What are the speciall duties of children A. 1. To pray in speciall for their Parents safety and happinesse 2. To hearken to their counsels and instructions 3. To yeeld them all reuerent respect 4. To obey them in the Lord. 5. To endure their rebukes and moderate chastenings 6.
receiue the oyle of grace and most pretious balsame of Gods word instilled by preaching If thou art a sheepe of Christ and belongest to his fold shew his eare-marke My sheepe heare my voyce Where wee reade in the Psalme according to the Septuagint and in the Epistle to the Hebrewes A body thou hast fitted or prepared me it is in the originall according to the Hebrew word for word Mine eares hast thou opened to teach vs that God fits vs and prepares vs for his seruice especially by boaring our eares with those goades and nailes that are fastened by the Maisters of the assemblies and are giuen from one sheapheard I socrates aduiseth Demonicus to employ all his leasure time in diligently hearing the penned Orations and speeches of eloquent Orators and graue Counsellers For so saith hee thou shalt get that with much ease which cost another man much paines That which a diuine Orator and heauenly Preacher hath beene many weekes perhaps yeeres in laying together hee scattereth abroad in an hower Obseruest thou not how the Manna which he gathereth graine by graine or seede by seede hee deliuereth out to thee in whole Omers yea and Ephaes too Yea but thou art well stored with this heauenly prouision and foode of Angels thy library is like a rich Granarie and why maist thou not then as well or better spend thy time in perusing such writings then repairing to the Church perhaps a good way from thy house to heare a man of meaner gifts then those were or are whose works thou hast in the last and best editions by thee I perceiue by this obiection that thou hast heard much against hearing heare now a little for it First as a great Master of the Law was wont to say that Courts of iustice must not Clash one against another so it is most certaine that duties of piety ought not Clash iustle or any way crosse one the other Priuate reading and publike hearing must both haue their places seasons and turnes If thou art so straightned in time or ouerlaid with businesse that thou canst not allow a fit time for both let the priuate voluntary alwaies giue place to the publike necessary duty The coÌ„mandements of God the Church wherein thou liuest ought to ouersway thy priuate opinion fancie or inclination or perhaps diabolicall tentation If thy Pastor be so strictly charged to preach vnto thee certainely thou art necessarily bound to heare him For these duties are linked together Hath priuate reading the like promises to publike hearing the Word Or is it of like force and efficacie Where thou canst name one that hath beene wonne to the Christian faith and true godlinesse by bare reading wee can produce many thousands that haue beene added to the Church by publike Sermons yea sometimes at one Sermon The holy Ghost in the day of Pentecost came with the sound Where the sound is of the Word Preached there goeth the Spirit ordinarily Yet I deny not but that men in priuate reading the Scriptures and other holy books may do feele some soft and sweet blasts of the holy spirit but in the publike Ministry of the Word the Spirit commeth downe like a mighty rushing winde filling the whole roome wee receiue then grace in a fuller measure Sermons preached are compared to raine and deaw but printed to snow which though it lye longer on the ground yet it is much colder and doth not in like sort pierce moysten and fatten the ground as the other Moreouer those things that haue passed the presse lye by vs wee may at any time haue and vse them but the notes of a Sermon preached are like the Manna that fell on the Saturday which if it was not presently gathered was vtterly lost There is much difference betweene those generall Receipts you finde in Physick bookes and a speciall potion or Electuary made by a trusty Apothecary according to the direction of a Learned Physitian and particularly applyed to thy peculiare disease Euery man hath not the skill of the Apothecary to make the confection and fewer haue the iudgement of an experienced physitian to direct where and how it ought to bee giuen And albeit thy preacher bee a man of no very extraordinary gifts yet in regard he is an Ambassadour sent from God vnto thee if he faithfully though perhaps not so eloquently deliuer his message vnto thee thou oughtst to heare it and honour him for his Masters sake His feete cannot but seeme beautifull to thee if they be shoâ—d with the Preparation of the Gospell of Peace The diligent Bee gathereth hony out of Thime one of the driest herbs that is and certainly if thou bee not a drone thy selfe thou mayest sucke from the mouth of the barrenest and as thou callest him the dryest Preacher Doctrine sweeter then the hony or the hony combe Although I assent freely to Lactantius that the truth findeth easyer-entrance into the soule when she commeth armed not onely with her owne strength but also with the best aide wit or art can afford Yet withall I affirme with Saint Paul that faith standeth not in the entising words of mans wisedome but in the demonstration of the Spirit and the power of God Art may moue affection but nothing but Gods Word and the grace of the Spirit can remoue corruption Humane wit and learning may tickle the eare and as Seneca speakes of Chrysippus his acute Sentences pricke but neuer pierce the heart that is the singular prerogatiue of the Word of God What are Rams-hornes in comparison of siluer Trumpets Yet when God commands and appoints the harsh sound of them shall demolish those strong holds of Satan which the sweeter and shriller sound of siluer Trumpets shall not doe Bee thoâ— obedient to him who is set ouer thee in the Lord and must giue an account of thy soule Desire not to haue thy eares tickled but thy heart pricked and make then no doubt but that God will blesse his ordinance and thy obedience and supply to thee by his Spirit what may bee deficient in the Preachers learning or language But then thou must come prepared to the hearing of the Word by such directions as are set downe in the Word THE PREPARATORIE Admonition THE ANALYSIS The preparation to the hearing of the Word consisteth in 1 Consideration especially of these particulars viz that 1 The hearing of the word is a necessarie dutie ioined by God the Father Sonne Holy-Ghost 2 Wee must giue account to God what how and whom wee heare 3 The word we heare is the word of God not of a mortal man 4 It is the ordinarie meanes of saluation 5 If we profit not by it it will be to our greater damnation 2 Prayer for 1 The Preacher that God would Direct Assist him 2 Our selues in that he will giue vs 1 Attention to heare 2 Vnderstanding to conceiue 3 Wisedome to apply 4 Iudgement to discern 5 Faith to belieue 6 Memory to